DEAN KEATES remains optimistic Wrexham's fortunes will change if his side perform like they did against Torquay.

Wrexham were the better side for an hour and had chances to take the lead before the Gulls scored the only goal of the contest against the run of play.

Defeat leaves the third from bottom Reds three points adrift of safety and with just one win in 15 league outings.

But Keates saw enough to believe Wrexham can climb to safety if they perform like they did at Plainmoor, and he is looking for a repeat of that display in today's home match against leaders Bromley.

"The work rate and commitment, if we keep applying that over the games it will turn," said Keates.

"I have no doubt it will.

"The endeavour and desire was everything I wanted to see. It is just fine margins like taking your chances.

"We should have been 2-0 up at half-time and we still had opportunities second half.

"On the side you kick every ball, you head everything, you tackle every tackle and you just hope that when somebody gets that opportunity, they take it.

"Ultimately we are at that point where we need something to go in off somebody's backside.

"I know it is an old cliche in football but we just need that little bit of luck."